Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Hart and Sheryll Murray

Wednesday 16th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support the Welsh fishing sector.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart)]

Our commitment to this country’s fishing industry is absolute, and we have defended it resolutely in our negotiations with the European Union. We promised fishermen in Wales, Cornwall and across the United Kingdom that we would take back control of our waters, and that is precisely what will happen.

[Mrs Murray [V]]

Welsh fishermen have said to me how important it is that we take back control of our waters and do not give away access in any trade deal with the EU. Does my right hon. Friend back them in that goal?

[Simon Hart]

I agree with my hon. Friend. The fishing industry made its views absolutely clear back in 2016, as did 55% of the Welsh nation. UK sovereignty over fishing in UK waters is not up for discussion.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Hart and Sheryll Murray

Wednesday 8th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to help support the tourism industry in Wales during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart)]

The UK Government have provided unprecedented support to enable the tourism industry in Wales to get through the pandemic. Now is the right time for the industry to reopen safely, and I have urged the Welsh Government on many occasions to share their plans to ensure that Wales is not left behind and can make the most of what is left of the summer season.

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Hart]

I will endeavour to be briefer than I have been so far. We have already delivered a £50 million project of railway upgrades in north Wales. We have commitments to the A55 improvements. There are numerous other accelerated plans for infrastructure. As I said in answer to an earlier question, tourism and covid do not recognise political boundaries. Such attempts to improve infrastructure will continue.

[Mrs Murray]

Many tourists will go to Wales from England and, indeed, Cornwall. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that those travelling, or thinking of travelling, know the differences between any lockdown rules that we have and any that are in place in Wales?

[Simon Hart]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. I think that residents of Wales and other places have become fatigued by the completely confusing array of messages coming out of Welsh Government in relation to what they can do, what they cannot do, and how far they can go to do it. That is gradually being cleared up. However, we do not want residents of Cornwall to decide that they cannot come to Wales and therefore align themselves with another part of the UK at our expense because of this lack of clarity. The perfect example of that is Llanymynech golf course, where you tee off in England and the ball lands in Wales.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Hart and Sheryll Murray

Wednesday 3rd June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Simon Hart]

Indeed, I have examples in my own constituency of people who have come to me feeling completely bewildered at the position they find themselves in. Absolutely, I offer that guarantee to take it up with BA. It does seem, on the face of it, to be a mystifying decision, particularly in the circumstances we are in. The answer to that is yes, of course, we will look into it. I am sure that, UK-wide, there is going to be much more debate in this place about that very problem.

[Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on connectivity (a) within Wales and (b) cross-border.